JP2598181B2 - Self-scanning system equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-scanning system which allows a customer to scan merchandise data of purchased merchandise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a checkout device provided to a supermarket, a customer scans merchandise data of purchased merchandise by using a self-scanning system device, and a checkout operation including money transfer is performed by an electronic cash system. There is a configuration in which a store clerk (cashier) performs the operation using a register.

[0003] For example, the checkout device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-46591 is a cashier having a plurality of self-scanning system devices and one common electronic cash register. Meanwhile, 1
There is also a dedicated system composed of one or two self-scanning system devices and one or two dedicated electronic cash registers.

FIG. 6 shows a general configuration of the latter checkout apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a self-scanning system device, which is an operation unit 10, a carry-in / weigh-out unit 20, a carry-out unit 40, and a stock / bag packing unit 50 which are operated by a customer for scanning.
Are arranged in a row in the product flow direction. The operation unit 10 includes
A product reading means (optical scanner or the like) 11 for reading a bar code attached to a product and an input / display unit 12 including various switches such as a start button and a display are provided. The carry-in / weighing unit 20 carries the self-scanned goods in the direction of the arrow.
1 and a weighing device 22 for weighing the goods placed on the carry-in conveyor 21. Unloading section 40
Includes a carry-out conveyor 41 and an inclined shooter 42, and is configured to carry out the adjusted product to a stock / bagging unit 50 having a stock place 51.

[0005] Here, the electronic cash register 31
It forms a settlement unit 30 and is provided between the carry-in / weigh-out unit 20 and the carry-out unit 40.

In the checkout device, when the customer scans his or her purchased merchandise on the operation unit 10, the merchandise data is stored in the electronic cash register 31.
These products are conveyed to the stock / bagging unit 50 through the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 41 while being registered in the sales registration file. Therefore, the cashier only needs to perform the payment operation for the customer after scanning in the payment unit 30. After that, the customer goes to the stock location 51
In the bag.

Therefore, the cashier can concentrate on only the settlement work, thereby improving work efficiency. On the other hand, customers can shop quickly without waiting for a long line. According to the checkout device disclosed in the above publication, the work efficiency can be further increased by concurrently serving as a cashier.

[0008] However, in such a self-scanning system device 1 irrespective of the dual-purpose system or the full-time system, the customer scans the goods scanned by the customer and the carry-in conveyor 21.
There may be a case where the product does not match the product actually placed by the customer. If this is left unchecked, the settlement operation becomes troublesome, and the introduction of the self-scanning system device 1 cannot achieve the improvement of the operation efficiency and the customer service. On the other hand, when the customer is intentional, it is hard to forgive that this fraud is overlooked.

In the check-out apparatus, the customer reads the weight of the scanned product from the product data file in the electronic cash register 31, and weighs the weight of the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21.
, And automatically determines whether or not both weights match.

That is, when the customer places the goods after scanning on the carry-in conveyor 21 which is being operated,
As shown in FIG. 7, the weighing device 22 automatically weighs the weight of the product (ST50), while the control unit such as the electronic cash register 31 reads data input by scanning (ST51), and the input data is the product. It is a regular product registered in the data file (YE of ST52)
S) and both weights match (YES in ST53)
On this condition, sales registration (ST54) is performed.

On the other hand, when the product is not a regular product (NO in ST52) or when the weight of the product input by scanning does not match the automatically weighed product (NO in ST53), the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped (ST55). And the reverse transportation operation (ST56), and the customer (operation unit 10)
Return to Then, it is general that a countermeasure message such as "Please rescan" or "Place the scanned product" is displayed to the customer (ST57).

Thus, it is possible to improve business efficiency and service while preventing intentional or negligence fraud.

[0013]

However, the following problems are being pointed out in large stores handling a wide variety of products.

[0014] That is, for example, wine is widely available from relatively low prices to high prices,
The product weight including the bottle is almost the same in many cases.
Therefore, depending on the customer, a low-priced product is scanned and input by the operation unit 10, but a high-priced product of the same weight is placed on the conveyor 21.

Here, it is impossible to detect such misconduct by a method of comparing the product weight data corresponding to the scanning product data with the weighed weight data. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the cashier to detect such misconduct, but this responsibility is extremely severe, especially when the store is busy.

Further, the carry-in conveyor 21 is operated continuously to speed up check-out. On the other hand, installation of the product weight measuring device 22 is essential. Here, the measuring device 22
Since there is a certain limit in improving the weighing accuracy of the weighing device 22 because of the mechanical relationship that the weighing device 22 must be in sliding contact with the moving conveyor 21, the weight data of a certain product should have a certain width. You have to manage it. Therefore, the number of commodities that must be handled with the same weight increases, so that the above problem is an important problem that must be solved more and more.

Here, an object of the present invention is to alert a cashier that a product has the same weight and a different price so as to reduce the work load on the cashier and to prevent a fraudulent act while ensuring a smooth payment operation. To provide a self-scanning system device capable of achieving the following.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided an operation unit including article reading means arranged in a line in a product flow direction, a carry-in / weighing unit having a carry-in conveyor and a measuring device, and a carry-out unit including a carry-out conveyor. And a self-scanning system device comprising a stock / bagging unit having a stock place,
Scanning product data storage means for storing product data of a product self-scanned by a customer at the operation unit,
Commodity data storage means for storing commodities having the same weight as the other commodities and having different prices by attaching identification codes to the merchandise data, and whether or not the self-scanning commodities are commodities with the identification codes Product determining means for determining
And a notifying means for notifying the user of the condition that the commodity is identified by the commodity discriminating means.

[0019]

According to the present invention, when merchandise data (for example, merchandise code, merchandise name, unit price, etc.) is stored in the merchandise data storage means, if the merchandise has the same weight as another merchandise but a different price. Is given an identification code that clearly indicates that. Here, when the customer self-scans, the product data is stored in the scanned product data storage means. Then, the merchandise discriminating means compares the scanned merchandise data with the merchandise data stored in the merchandise data storage means to determine whether or not the merchandise is an article with an identification code. The notifying means, when it is determined that the product is the one to which the identification code is attached, notifies the fact by a display or the like. That is,
Since the cashier can be alerted, accurate and smooth settlement can be performed.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, the self-scanning system apparatus includes two units (1A, 1B) arranged in parallel, and a common settlement unit 30 [two electronic cash registers 31] in the middle.
(A), 31 (B)] is provided as a so-called two-lane type checkout device.

This self-scanning system device 1A
(1B) has a basic configuration similar to that of the conventional example (FIG. 6), but includes a scanning product data storage unit, a product data storage unit, a product discrimination unit, and a notification unit. Is a mixed product (a product that has the same weight and a different price as other products) but is notified by a display, an alarm, or the like to alert the cashier.

Further, in this embodiment, a weighed product weight data storage means, a comparison / judgment means, a conveyor operation control means and the like are provided, and it is determined that the self-scanned product (weight) matches the weighed product (weight). If done,
It is formed so that the carry-in conveyor 21 is transported for the first time.

The same or common parts as in the conventional example (FIG. 6) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

In FIG. 3, the weighing device 22 has a structure for automatically weighing the weight of the goods placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 which is stopped. Therefore, since it is sufficient to dispose it on the upstream side of the conveyor 21, it is very small and highly accurate compared to the conventional example. In addition, the conveyor 2 in operation
Since it does not make sliding contact with 1, it can be constructed simply and at low cost. The same applies to the carry-in conveyor 21.

Furthermore, since the weighing device 22 can be configured to be able to move up and down, after weighing, that is, the loading conveyor 2
1 is operated, the weighing machine 22 is loaded into the conveyor 2.
1 can be separated.

The scanning merchandise data storing means, merchandise data storing means, merchandise discriminating means, notifying means, weighed merchandise weight data storing means, and comparing and judging means in this embodiment comprise an electronic cash register 31 ( A) It is constructed using both the constituent elements of [31 (B)] and the functions of them. Therefore, first, the electronic cash register 31 will be described.

In FIG. 1, the electronic cash register 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU 31A for performing calculations, determinations, instructions, etc., a ROM 31B for storing various programs and fixed data, a RAM 31C for temporarily storing various data, a keyboard 32 (controller 32C), and a printer 37 (controller 37).
C), drawer 34 (controller 34C), operator display 35 (controller 35C), customer display 3
6 (controller 36C), including an interface 31D, a general setting mode, a registration mode,
Inspection mode and settlement mode data processing can be performed, and data can be transmitted to a host computer (not shown).

The RAM 31C has a work area WA for temporarily storing data being processed and a sales registration area RM.
And a product data file area DM shown in FIG. In the product data file area DM, in addition to the product code, the product name, and the unit price, the weight and the coexistence of the product are set and stored in advance. The mixed property indicates whether the product is the above mixed product or not. For example, in FIG.
Since the product A of 00 g and the product E of 1,000 g at a price of 4,000 yen are mixed products, the products A and E are given an identification code “1” to that effect. That is, it is understood that the product data file area DM (RAM 31C) forms the product data storage means of the present invention.

Regarding the mixability of the product E, the identification code "1" is set to "(1)" because the highest price (4,000 yen) among mixed products within the same weight. This means that it is not always necessary to attach an identification code to the product.

The work area WA forms a scanning product data storage means. Further, in the sales registration area RM, in addition to the product data self-scanned by the customer using the operation unit 10, the scanner 3 shown in FIG.
Product data input by the cashier operating the 3 or the keyboard 32 is also stored.

On the other hand, the following devices forming the self-scanning system device 1 are connected to the interface 31D. That is, the commodity reading means 11 forming the operation unit 10, the four-digit display 14, the start switch 1
5, an input / display unit 12 having a stop switch 16 is connected. The start switch 15 is for declaring that the customer uses the product reading means 11 to start inputting self-purchased product data, and the stop switch 16 is for declaring the end thereof.

Therefore, the start switch 15 is turned on.
Then, the self-scanned product data is automatically input to the electronic cash register 31 via the interface 31D, and the scanned product data is stored in the RAM 3.
It is temporarily stored in the working area WA of 1C. Here, it is understood that the RAM 31C constitutes the scanning product data storage means as described above.

On the other hand, the weighing device 22 is a means for automatically weighing the weight of the self-scanned product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 stopped by the customer, and the weighed weight is temporarily stored in the working area WA of the RAM 31C. Here, RA
Obviously, M31C also forms a weighed product weight data storage means.

The conveyor controller 29 connected to the interface 31D is a means for controlling the operation of the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 41. The carry-in conveyor 21 is started to be conveyed by a conveyor operation control means described later, and is stopped by the conveyor controller 29 when a sensor 23 (FIGS. 1 and 3) provided downstream of the carry-in conveyor 21 detects a product. On the other hand, the unloading conveyor 41 is transported after the start switch 15 is turned on.

Further, the conveyor controller 29
As shown in FIG. 3, the carry-in conveyor 21 can be transported by a foot switch 38 disposed in a range where the cashier can be operated, and an emergency stop can be performed by an emergency switch 39.

The merchandise reading means 11, the input / display unit 12, the weighing device 22, and the conveyor controller 29 include:
Based on the programs shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 stored in the ROM 31B, they are executed in association with each other under the control of the CPU 31A.

The comparing and judging means compares the merchandise weight data (Di) and the weighed weight data (Dm) to judge whether or not both weights are equal (Dm = Di). Is formed from a CPU 31A and a ROM 31B. Specifically, it is executed in ST17 of FIG.

The merchandise weight data (Di) is stored in a merchandise data file (RAM 31C) shown in FIG. 2 based on the scanned merchandise data (D) input by the customer's self-scanning and temporarily stored in the RAM 31C. The weight of the product is obtained by the CPU 31A.

Next, the conveyor operation control means includes a CPU 3
1A, the ROM 31B, and the comparing and judging means (31
A, 31B), a transfer operation command signal of the carry-in conveyor 21 is output to the conveyor controller 29 on condition that it is determined that both weights are equal (Dm = Di).
In other words, customers self-scan for self-purchased products,
Only when the product is placed on the carry-in conveyor 21, the transport operation is started for the first time on the conveyor 21.
Therefore, the waste operation of the transport conveyor 21 is eliminated,
There is no need to operate the transport conveyor 21 in the reverse transport operation. In addition, since only regular purchased products are transported, high-speed operation can be performed.

On the other hand, when the self-scanning is not normal, the CPU 31A loads the goods on the carry-in conveyor 21 without performing the self-scanning, or the CPU 31A loads the goods different from the self-scanned goods on the carry-in conveyor 21. , The carry-in conveyor 21 is not operated.
For this reason, it is possible to prevent customer's negligence or intentional fraud without giving the unpleasant feeling of reversely transporting the product.

The shelf 15 in FIG. 3 is for temporarily placing a product or the like that has failed in self-scanning.

Here, the product discriminating means is a means for discriminating whether or not the self-scanned product is a product with an identification code. That is, the scanning product data stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C... WA) and the product data storage means (RA
M31C... DM) is compared with the merchandise data of FIG. 2 to determine whether the scanned merchandise is a merchandise with an identification code 1, that is, a mixed merchandise. In this embodiment, it is formed of a CPU 31A and a ROM 31B, and is executed in ST20 of FIG.

When the product discriminating means (31A, 31B) discriminates a mixed product, the notifying means notifies the cashier by displaying the sound and sound. In this embodiment, FIG.
A CPU 31A and a ROM 31B that execute ST21 of
An operator display 35 including the display controller 35C of FIG. 1 is formed. In other words, the cashier can visually check in advance whether or not the goods conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 21 are mixed goods from the display unit 35. If the goods are different from the self-scanning goods, the cashier checks the scanner 33 under customer confirmation. Thus, the price can be corrected and input using the keyboard 32 or the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The customer who has delivered a large number of purchased products to the cart stops at the operation unit 10 and turns on the start switch 15 (ST1 in FIG. 4).
0).

Then, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display the message (1) "Please scan the product" (ST11). The product data D self-scanned by the customer using the product reading means 11 is temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C) (ST12, ST13). At this time, the CPU 31A calculates the weight Di of the product corresponding to the scanned product data D in FIG.
From the product data file (RAM 31C)
It is temporarily stored in the work area WA.

Subsequently, the message (2) of "Please place the scanned product in the frame of the conveyor" is displayed on the display 14 (ST14). Loading conveyor 21
The product placed above is automatically weighed by the weighing device 22, and the weighed product weight Dm is stored in the RAM 31C forming the weighed product weight data storage means (ST15, ST16).

Here, the comparison judgment means (CPU 31A, R
OM31B) determines the identity between the product weight data Di and the weighed weight data Dm (ST17). Dm = Di
When it is determined (YES in ST17), the CPU 31A forming the conveyor operation control means outputs a transport operation command signal to the conveyor controller 29, and
To start operation.

On the other hand, if Dm ≠ Di (N in ST17)
In O), the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (3) such as "Please place the scanned product on the carry-in conveyor" (ST18). In this case, the carry-in conveyor 21 is not operated and remains stopped.

Now, it is determined that the self-scanned product and the product placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 have the same weight (the same weight) (YES in ST17). (ST19), and sent to the stocking place 51 via the unloading conveyor 41.

Here, the product discriminating means (31A, 31B)
Determines whether or not the self-scanned product stored in the scanned product data storage means (RAM 31C... WA) is a mixed product (ST20 in FIG. 5). If it is determined that the product is a mixed product, the CPU forming the notification means
31A displays that fact on the operator display 35 and alerts the cashier (ST21).

When the sensor 23 detects a product during the transportation of the product (ST22 in FIG. 5), the scanning product data temporarily stored in the scanning product data storage means (RAM 31C) is stored in the sales registration storage by the CPU 31A. It is registered in the area (31C) (ST23).
At the same time, the conveyor controller 29 stops the carry-in conveyor 21 (ST24).

Thereafter, the CPU 31A causes the display 14 to display a message (4) such as "Please scan the next product" and "Press the stop switch" (ST25). The next product is the same (ST11-2
Handled in 5). When the self-scanning is completed for all the products and the stop switch 16 is pressed, the self-scanning operation ends (ST26).

Thereafter, the electronic cash register 31
The total amount and the like are displayed on the display 36 of the customer.
Make a payment at. The cashier is manually input to the merchandise temporarily placed on the shelf 15 due to the malfunction of the self-scanning using the keyboard 32 or the scanner 33.

Even if the product weight Di and the weighing weight Dm are the same, the price of the product actually placed on the carry-in conveyor 21 is self-scanned and stored in the scanned product data storage means (RAM 31C... WA). It may be higher (lower) than the price of the product.

In such a case, since the cashier has already notified the display on the display 35, the cashier can promptly confirm that the customer should replace the scanned product or purchase the transported product as it is. When there is a declaration that the conveyed merchandise is to be purchased, the merchandise data is input from the scanner 33 or the keyboard 32 and the payment is made. The settled customer packs the merchandise in the stock / bagging section 50.

According to this embodiment, however, the operation unit 1
In the self-scanning system device 1 in which the carry-in / weigh-out unit 20, the carry-out unit 40, and the stocking / bagging unit 50 are arranged in rows in the product flow direction, the scanning product data storage means (31C... WA) and the product data storage means ( 31C ... D
A), product discriminating means (31A, 31B) and notifying means (3
1A, 31B, 35C, and 35), and when the self-scanned product is automatically determined to be a product with an identification code, that is, a mixed product, the user is notified that the product is self-scanned. By alerting the cashier that the products have the same Di and different prices, it is possible to reduce the work load on the cashier and to enable smooth payment work while preventing fraud.

In addition to the above, in addition to the weighed product weight data storage means (31C) and the comparison / judgment means (31A, 31)
B) and conveyor operation control means (31A, 31B), and the self-scanned goods and the carry-in conveyor 21 are provided.
Since the carry-in conveyor 21 is operated to be conveyed when it is determined that the goods placed thereon are the same, the scale 22
Can be configured to measure while the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped.
Therefore, the structure of the carry-in / measurement unit 20 can be greatly simplified, a significant cost reduction can be achieved, and power can be saved, and customer service can be further improved.

Further, since the weighing device 22 is configured to weigh while the carry-in conveyor 21 is stopped, weighing can be performed with extremely high accuracy. Therefore, the product data storage means (31C... DA)
Since the weight data stored in advance can be subdivided and the number of categories of mixed products can be reduced, unnecessary notification can be reduced, and the purpose of notification can be accurately expressed.

Further, scanning merchandise data storage means,
The merchandise data storage means, the merchandise discriminating means, the notifying means, the weighed merchandise weight data storage means, the comparison judging means, and the conveyor operation control means are also configured to share the CPU 31A, ROM 31B, RAM 31C, etc. of the electronic cash register 31 constituting the settlement section 30 Therefore, organic and high-speed processing can be performed, and the cost of the entire checkout device can be reduced.

Further, since the weighing device 22 may have a structure in which the weighing device 22 abuts on the conveyer 21 being stopped to measure the product weight, the weighing device 22 is very small and has high accuracy. Therefore, the present invention has a wide applicability that can be introduced to a variety of merchandise dealers having a small difference in weight, and ensures a stable operation.

Further, since the carry-in conveyor 21 is configured to start operation after product identity is confirmed and to stop after completion of sales registration, high-speed operation can be performed, the operation time can be minimized, power can be saved, and customer handling can be achieved. In the case of deficiency or negligence, there is no discomfort that the carry-in conveyor 21 is reversely conveyed and the product is returned to the operation unit 10.

Although the self-scanning system device 1 described above is introduced into a two-lane dedicated checkout device, it can also be implemented as a self-scanning system device for a dual-purpose checkout device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication. .

[0063]

As described above, in the self-scanning system device 1 in which the operation section, the carry-in / weigh-out section, the carry-out section, and the stock / bagging section are arranged in the product flow direction, the scanning product data storage means and the product data storage. Means, a product discriminating means, and a notifying means, and when the self-scanned product is automatically discriminated as a product with an identification code, that is, a mixed product, it is notified that the product has the same weight. Can alert the cashier that the item has a different price. Therefore, it is possible to perform a smooth payment operation while reducing the work load on the cashier and preventing fraudulent acts.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is also a diagram for explaining a product data file.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the entire checkout device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (1) for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (2) for explaining the operation.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B Self-scanning system device 10 Operation unit 11 Product reading means 12 Input / display unit 14 Display 15 Shelf 20 Carry-in / weigh-out unit 21 Carry-in conveyor 22 Weighing device 23 Sensor 29 Conveyor controller 30 Payment unit 31, 31A, 31B Electronic cash register 31A CPU (commodity discriminating means, notifying means) 31B ROM (commodity discriminating means, notifying means) 31C RAM (scanning merchandise data storing means, merchandise data storing means) 31D interface 32 keyboard 33 scanner 34 drawer 35 operator display (Notification Means) 35C Display Controller (Notification Means) 36 Customer Display 37 Printer 38 Foot Switch 39 Emergency Switch 40 Unloading Unit 41 Unloading Conveyor 50 Stock / Packing Unit 5 1 Stock location

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location G07F 9/00 110 G07G 1/12 301Z G07G 1/12 301 G06F 15/21 350

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operation unit including product reading means arranged in a line in a product flow direction, a loading / weighing unit having a loading conveyor and a measuring device, a loading unit including a loading conveyor, and a stocking unit having a stocking place. A self-scanning system device comprising a bagging unit; a scanning product data storage means for storing product data of a product self-scanned by the customer at the operation unit; and a product having the same weight and a different price as other products. Product data storage means for storing data with an identification code to that effect; product identification means for determining whether the self-scanning product is a product with an identification code; and an identification code for the product identification means. Notification means for notifying the user that the product has been identified as having a symbol attached thereto. The system unit.